Sometimes the most familiar stories in Scripture hold the greatest surprises. Recently, while reading through Mark’s Gospel with a friend on campus who had never opened a Bible, God revealed something that completely changed how I see God’s grace.
We had just finished the account of Jesus’s last meeting with the disciples before his arrest. He tells them he is going to die and be raised from the dead. After promising unwavering loyalty at the Last Supper, Peter later that night denied knowing Jesus three times.
Isolated and Ashamed
Mark 14 tells us that when Peter realized what he had done, he “broke down and wept.” My friend was shocked – and honestly, a bit angry with Peter. How could someone who walked so closely with Jesus make such a devastating mistake? We talked about how Peter might have felt – isolated and ashamed.
We continued to read the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. My friend and I read in chapter 16 that three days after the burial of Jesus, a group of women arrived at the tomb and found an angel with incredible news: Jesus has risen!
Denied Three Times
But here is the detail I had somehow missed in the past. The angel doesn’t simply tell the women to inform “the disciples” of this news. Instead, the angel specifically says, “Go, tell the disciples AND PETER that he is going to Galilee, and he wants to see you” (Mark 16:7).
My friend stopped me and said, “Wait – Jesus wants to see Peter? The same guy who just denied him three times and deserves to never see him again.”
Specifically Sought Out
Can you imagine what Peter must have felt when the women came and told him Jesus specifically asked for him to be there? My friend was amazed that Peter would receive a personal invitation after such a public failure.
This moment sparked a new understanding of God’s grace for me. Peter wasn’t just forgiven; he was specifically sought out and invited back into relationship with Jesus.
Despite My Denials
Reading this familiar story through fresh eyes reminded me how easy it is to become numb to Scripture’s power. When we lose our sense of wonder at these accounts, we also lose our excitement about sharing them with others. I was asked to consider these questions in my own life:
- Have I become so familiar with God’s forgiveness that I have forgotten how radical it really is?
- Am I still amazed that despite my denials – both public and private – I continue to receive the invitation to draw near to God?
The beauty of Peter’s surprise invitation reminded me that grace is not just about second chances. It is about being specifically sought out, personally invited, and fully restored in relationship with God. That is the kind of grace worth getting excited about – and sharing with others.
